Filter-press.



No. 628,057` A 'Patented YJuly 4, |899.

. J. WILLIAMSON.

FILTER PRESS.

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FILTER PRESS.

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FILTER PRESS.

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MLJL o II II Il Il have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Filter-Presses and Similar Filtering Apparat-us, (which have Patent dated October 3, 1896, No. 21,934, and in Belgium, dated July 1.2, 1897, No. 129,422,)

presses and similar filtering apparatus, has for its object the provision of means for preof the filter-cloth in filtering impure water, such as river or canal waters, liquors or juices, turbid, chemical, or other liquors, and sugarjuices containing locculent, albuminous, gummy, or like matters which do not readily form cakes in a filter-press. either I mount a shaft to pass through the series of plates in the press, (which may be of ordinary form,) so that it is capableof rotation or oscillation, and in `each'filteringchamber between said plates I iit a brush or series of brushes upon arms or spokes of a wheel secured upon the central shaft, or in each liltering-chainber I insert a shaft or spindle capable of a reciprocating motion, to which I fit cross arms having brushes attached. These brushes may or may not be maintained out of contact with the surface of the ltercloth during filtration and they may 0r may vnot be kept in motion during filtration, according to the character of the material being filtered.

tered liquor after passing through the filtercloth may be drawn o at either the top or ticular manner in .which I brush the face of the filter-cloth. tered liquor decreases owing to the partial clogging of the filter-cloth, the admission of iilter-chambers is run off, air being freely ad- PATENT. QFFICE.

` JoI-IN WILLIAMSON, on

FlLTER- GLASGOV, SCOTLAND.

PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 628,057, dated July 4, 1899.

Application filed November 13, 1897- Seril No. 658,421. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WILLIAMSON, chemical engineer, of 65 West Regent street, Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, Scotland,

been patented in vGreat Britain by Letters of which the following is a specification.

This invention, which. relates to filterventing clogging or choking of the interstices To that end The liquor to be `filtered is maintained under a head or pressure, and the filbottom of each chamber, according to the par- When the discharge of illiquor isstopped and that remaining in the mitted, when the filtered liquor is drawn from the top of the plates. The shaft or shafts, with the brushes attached, is or are then rotated, oscillated, or reciprocated, and owing to the relief of pressure on filter-chamber and serves to wash away the obstructing material. The liltering operation is then recommenced by turning on cocks or valves to admit the liquor under pressure into the filterchambers, as previously described.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figures land 2 are respectively a longitudinal section and end elevation of my improved press, where provision is made for the brushes to rotate. Fig. 1a is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but taken on a different line of section, of a portion of the iilter-press with the gratings removed, showing more clearly the inlets and outlets for the unfiltered and filtered liquor. Fig. 2a is an end elevation of Fig. 1a looking from the right; and Fig. 2b, an inverted horizontal section taken on the line x, Fig. 2a. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the general arrangement for causing the brushes to oscillate. Fig. 4 is an elevation and part section of one of the frames and also of one of the wheels which carry or hold the brushes. Fig. 5 is an elevation and part section of one of the plates upon which the filtering-cloth or other medium is stretched. Figs. 6 and 7 are an enlarged cross-section and anelevation of one form of perforation or grating which is benecially applied in the construction of my apparatus; and Fig. 6a shows, to a larger scale, the filter-cloth in position on the grating. Figs. 8 and 9 are a cross-section and elevation of plate, grating, and center flanges, showing thel method of fitting on the cloth water-tight and of securing the iianges free from liability to rotate. Fig. 10 is a section of the spokes ofthe wheel,showing the method of holding the brush and allowing of the adjustment of the same. Fig. l1 is an end view of the rack-and-pinion gearing, which is fixed on or forms the outer rim of the circular gratings. Fig. 12 is a section of the shaft attached to the pinion, showing how it is iiXed to the edge or rim of the plate. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section and part elevation of my form ZOO , liquids from the inside.

of apparatus when the plates are square and the brushes are manipulated in a reciprocating manner. Figs. 14 and 15 are the respective end elevations of this form of apparatus. Fig. 16 is an elevation and part section of the frames thereof, showing also the method of holding and adjusting the brushes; and Fig. 16Ct is a detail view of the part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 17 is a horizontal section of the parts shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is an elevation and part section of the plates of this form of apparatus. Fig. 19 is an enlarged section of the arrangement for regulating the admission of Water or other liquid While the brushes are at work. Fig. 20 is a section of the plates and the gratings, showing in this form of apparatus how the position of the grating is altered.

The apparatus resembles in general contour an ordinary filter-press and comprises the usual framing X X, with plates Y and gratings Z, upon which latter the filter-cloth or other filtering medium is stretched. Through the center of the press I insert the shaft a, which varies in form throughout its length, as follows: From the outer end to the part marked ct it is round. Between a and a2 it assumes a square shape, with rounded edges, as shown in section in Fig. 9. Between a2 and CL3-ift is of a similar square shape, but reducedfin size. The center holes of the Wheels h, which carry the brushes, are shaped to suit this shaft, so that the wheels while rotated by the shaft possess a free lateral motion. When the plates Y and frames X X are screwed up tight and the shaft@ inserted till the point aa'rmly rests upon the end of the journal a4 provided for it, the shaft is then prevented from working out by the roller a5, which is xed on by the screwed pin a6. The brass flanges c are made large enough to all'ow the square part of the shaft to revolve freely Without coming in contact with them. On the shaftemerging from the press agland ot7 is provided to prevent any leakage of the are fixed two pulleys a8 and a, one loose and the other firmlysecured. An arm a10,attached to the bracket all, holds a rod am for shifting the belt by means of an ordinary fork als, actuated by the handle rtl4.

The liquid to be filtered is admitted by means of the valve d and channels d and d2 (see Figs. 1, 1, 2, 2, 2b, and 3) into the filtering-chambers e, in which are the Wheels b, holding the brushes, the clear liquid passing in the usual Way through the filter-cloth at dx, (shown particularly in Fig. 6%) which is supported by the gratings Z or plates Y, and the clear liquidthereafter passing by Way of the hole 7a4 and channels k6 lo in the filterplates Y to a common chamber formed by the holes k7 in each plate being brought opposite each other and opposite a like hole in one of the end plates, which is provided With a cock 105, normally closed, but opened peri- Odically for the purpose hereinafter described.

On the outside end When the deposit upon the cloth becomes so great as to renderit necessary to be removed, the valve d is shut and the valve f opened. Thisallows the liquid inside the chambers to be run od by the channels f2,and the valvef. tVhen this is done, the valve j' is shut, the Wheels Z),With the brushes, set in motion, and the cock g opened by means of the rod g'. The cloths at this stage,because of the filtered liquor between them and the plates y, are caused to sag against the brushes with sufiicient pressure for these latter to remove the deposit therefrom, which is run off by the channel f and the cock g.

If necessary, a supply of pure Water or of the unfiltered material can be admitted by the cock h and channels h' t2,\vhich, because of the line of section, are most clearly shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of assisting the brushes, such liquid escaping through the passages f 2 f by the cock g.

In exhausting the chambers of their contents prior to the brushes being set in motion it is necessary to admit air, and this is done automatically by means of a rubber and gridiron Valve l, such valve being fitted with an upturned tube l for the conservation of any liquid Which may pass the valve during filtration. rlhe filtered liquid, contrary to usual practice, ascends by the petty channels los, as shown in Figs. 5 and 18, and escapes by the fiat pipes ot into the gutters m, said gutters being supported by brackets attached to the fixed head X and the loose head X. These gutters are preferably made light in Weight, as in opening out the press they must of necessity be first removed. v Each plate Y and the fixed' and loose heads X X are provided With a cock 705, which by means of the channel 7a4 (see Fig. la) enables all the frltered liquid behind the cloth to be removed when desired. It is not absolutely necessary that the filtered liquid be removed from the top of the plates, but in general practice it has been found that such method is the preferable one.

The emptying of the filter-chamber causes the cloth or other filtering material to press against the brushes for the purpose of being cleaned; but if the cloth sag so much asl to press with too great a force against the brushes the cloths must be stretched over the plates with greater tightness, and the method I adopt to effect that is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

For the purpose of fixing the brushes to the revolving wheel or wheels b I make the spokes of said wheels in the form shown in Figs. 4 and 10-that is to say, U-shaped small bolts b3 being entered through slots in the U-shaped sides in order to clamp the brushes. When the nuts on the bolts b3 are slackened, the brush b4 can be removed, set in the proper position, and retained there firmly by again screwing up the nuts b3.

The brushes employedv may be any ordinary form of brush suitable to the particular form IOO IIO

IZO

of spoke adopted. The hair or bristles ofthe brushes may be of any description, provided it is firm enough for the purpose of brushing the cloths, and it may be constructed of metal,according to the nature of .the liquid to be filtered.

In iXing the brushes in the spokes it is necessary to allow the bristles to project a suflicient distancebeyond the spoke,and the spoke must have sufficient clearance within the frame to allow of this projection, as it is desirable that the cloths should not come in contact with the spoke, but with the brush contained therein.

In securing the cloths to the center of the plates and rendering them water-.tight use is made of the general form of fianged nuts for this purpose; but as provision must be made for preventing them from being unscrewed, and thereby slackencd by the revolving of the internal brush-wheels, I furnish the female nut with a slot c', as shown in Fig. 8, the length of which may be doubleits width. The male screw is provided with four or eight similar slotted holes c2, any one of which Will correspond with the slot in the female screw when they are tightened up. The jointing at c3 is preferably eected by thin india-rubber washers c4, so that in tightening up suiicient play is allowed to bring one of the holes in the male screw exactly above the slot in the female screw, while the joint is kept perfectly tight. When this is done, a pin c5 is dropped into the hole in the plate c6, specially bored to receive it, and as it passes through the two slots they become locked and the male screw is unable then to work out.

In the usualdesign of filter-presses the surface of the plates upon which the cloth rests is generally grooved in one or a combination of directions, this being performed upon the surface of the -plate itself. In my improved apparatus I make the plates Y with a recess onboth sides, and into this recess I place a framework or grating Z, such as illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and S. The metal against which the cloth rests during filtration and which has the effect of retarding filtration at that spot is reduced to as small a size as possible,l in doing which it assumes any of the forms shown in Fig. 5 or of the two forms shown in Fig. 1S. I also construct these gratings so as toy allow of a'free open space between the back of such andthe surface of the plate, this being done by providing the back of the gratings with several small projections 1f, which serve to support the grating without interfering materially with this clear space. The object of this arrangement is to insure perfect freed-om for the filtered liquid to escape from the apparatus and to enable ltration to be cond ucted at a correspondingly lower pressure. I also make provision for shifting the position of the projecting parts of these frames by slightly rotating them while the brushes are being revolved and the cloth is in contact therewith or simultaneously -with the starting of the brushes to revolve or oscillate. For this purpose I provide the outside rim of the grating with teeth p, as shown in Figs. 6 and 1l, so as to form a circular rack, in which works the pinion r. by meansgof the outside wheel fr', which is either a toothed wheel gearing into a similar wheel on the next plate or is provided with snugs'to accommodate a chain, as at Fig. 12.

This pinion is actuated Motion is imparted to the toothed wheel by 4 means of the handle rs, the shaft attached to which is supported by the bracket r9, which is bolted to the fixed head, all as shown in Fig. 2. The toothed wheel r1() may be replaced by a wheel with snugs if a chain is used, the mode of afftxing the latter being shown. The chain after going around the last wheel 9" passes around an idle-wheel r11, which is capable of adjustment within or on the slotted bracket T12, attached to the fixed head. If it is desired to open out thelter, the wheel r11 is shifted along the slot as far as possible. by which means the chain can be freed from the wheels and replaced when the filter is closed up` again.

The channels for the admission of the un-v filtered liquid to the filtering-chambers are usually made round; but in my apparatus, where the plates are non-circular in form, I make these channels d fnon-circular also or wide and shallow, and in the two end fralnes this rectangular channel is formed into the circle where the inlet-valve and air-valve are respectively attached, as shown in Figs. la and 2a. The advantage gained is that the petty channels d2 and f2 can be made larger and more numerous, as shown in Fig. 4, affording in the case of slightly impure water, where the flow is great, quick access to and egress from the filtering-chambers.

' The channel h', Fig. l, for the admission of the water or nnliltered liquid used in washing the surface of the cloths while brushing is formed below the main inlet-channel d' in the center, as shown in Figs. Il and 5. For the purpose of causing this water or unfiltered liquid to impinge upon the top of the cloth or in whatever direction it is found that this water or unfiltered liquid serves best to'scour the face of the cloths I incline the petty channels h2 in such a Way as to effect this purpose. In squeezing the plates and frames together I adopt the usual plan-namely, I apply the compressing power by means of a strong screw X2, working in the standard X3, which supports one end of the side bars, as shown in Fig. 13, or at regular intervals I provide the fixed end frame X of the press with snugs s, to which are adapted the bolts s. These bolts it into corresponding snugs s2 on'the loose end or frame, enabling the plates and frames to lie tightly screwed close together.-

As the time occupied in emptying the chambersv of their liquid contents and thereafter removing the deposit from the face of the cloths by the rotation or oscillation of the IIO brushes must be reduced to a minimum for the admission of the unfiltered liquid, I employ a valve constructed as shown at d in Fig. 1, and for the removal of the contents of the filtering-chambers prior to brushing the cloths I employ a valve constructed as shown at f, Fig. 1. In both cases the valves are of the circular gridiron type; but in the case of the valve d the movable plate d3 is on the exterior side of the fixed plate d1, while in the case of the valve f the movable plate f3 is on the interior side of the fixed plate f4. The object of this arrangement is that when the valve d is required to be kept tightly closed the pressure of the liquid itself tends toward that purpose, and similarly in the case of the Valve f. Springs d5 and f5 are employed to insure the valves working tightly; but the removable spindles are of necessity different in construction, as shown, as the springs exert their power in opposite directions. II-andles d7 and f7 are used for opening and closing these valves, and projecting pins (Z8 and f5 serve to regulate the extent of movement.

(SeeFig. 2.)

Instead of revolving the brushes they may be oscillatehd or rotated backward and forward to such an extent that every part of the surface of the cloth may be thoroughly brushed. To effect that object, I adopt the arrangement shown in Fig. 3. The bar for supporting the frames and plates on one side is extended beyond the screwing-up nut on the fixed head of the press, and this extension forms a shaft for a pulley t2, while the crank of the shaft is connected to the center shaft a by the crank t3 and the connecting-rod t4. The revolution of the wheel or pulley 't2 imparts the necessary motion to the brushes, the inanipulation of which otherwise and the gener'al construction throughout being all as hereinbefore described.

In order to brush the face of the cloths in a reciprocating manner, I adopt the form of press shown in Figs. 13, 14, 15, and 16. The plates Y and gratings Z are made square, the inlet-channel d being formed in snug-pieces at the top corner and the outlet for the unfiltered liquid prior to brushing of the cloths and for the brushings from the cloth being formed in snug-pieces at the opposite bottom corner, as shown at f@ Fig. 1G.

The frame B for holding the brushes is of square 0r rectangular form and provision is made on the top for hooking it ou the rod B2 by means of the tongue B', attached to the end of the rod which is inserted in an opening at the top of the frame. The brushes are fixed in this frame horizontally back to back and are kept firmly in their place by a loose plate B3, tightened up by the long bolts B4 and nuts thereon. The rod B2 passes through a gland and stuffing-box B7 at the top of the frame and terminates i-n a square head B8, with a rectangular slot running through it parallel to the line of the inletchannel. Into this slot is inserted a rectangular bar A, the reciprocating motion of which is imparted to thev brushes for cleaning the cloths. The brushes are kept moving in a straight line vertically by means of pins B5, entering through the sides of the press-frame, the heads or points of these pins fitting into corresponding grooves in the sides of the brush-frame. The centers of the fixed crossbars and the loose plates are perforated with longitudinal holes, as at B5, Fig. 17, to enable the washings from the cloths to escape freely to the channel f. The reciprocating motion is imparted to the rectangular bai-A from the pulley A2, which revolves on a shaft A11,whieh is an extension of one of the side bars for supporting the plat-es. The pulley A2 is connected with a lever A4 by the connecting-rod A3, and to the other end of the lever A4 is attached another connecting-rod A5, whose upper end is connected with the bar A. The lever A4 is supported by a shaft A", which extends beyond the back standard. At this end of the shaft is attached a crank A7, which by means of a connecting-rod A8 actuates the corresponding end of the rectangular bar A. A standard-guide A1o on the fixed head and another guide A on the back standard serve to impart a thoroughly-vertical motion to the rectangular bar A.

The manipulation of the different valves and the starting and stopping of the brushes for the purpose of cleaning the cloths are effected in a manner similar to that adopted when the brushes revolve or oscillate. An elbow-pipe I., Fig. 13, leading to the air-valve, is provided for'the automatic admission of air to the filtering-chambers. A handle-bar A12, oscillating on a pivot attached to the fixed head, controls a fork A15, which throws the driving-belt on or off the fast and loose pulleys A2 and A. The filtered liquid is caused to ascend, passing through the petty channels k3, Fig. 18, and the pipes n, into suitable gutters such as previously described. A cock 705 is provided for emptying the chambers formed behind the cloths.

For the purpose of stretching the cloths over the face of the plates small holes 705 are provided and used as previously described. The same form of perforated framework or grating may be inserted into the recesses in the plates, as previously described in the case of an apparatus with revolving brushes and as illustrated in Fig. 18. In order, however, to shift the position of the projections p of the gratings Z so that a new portion of the filter-cloth will rest on each of the projections, the grids must be reciprocated,and the method I adopt to effect this on the circular grids is illustrated in Figs. 5, 11, and 12, and the method of reciprocating the square-shaped grids is shown by Figs. 18 and 20. The gratings Z are made with recesses for the reception of a corresponding square nut R'. This nut is screwed on the end of a spindle R after the spindle has been passed through the stuffing-box R2 and gland R5, the former being IOC IIO

bolted to the edge of the plate, which is bored to receive the rod R. The outer end of this rod is provided with a square slotted head R4,

through which is inserted the rectangular bar R5. This bar passes through slotted heads on each plate and is provided at both ends with slippers R5.' The slipper at the lfixed end of .the press moves horizontally between two brackets R7, attached to the fixed head X, while the slipperat the loose ,end Xof the press moves between two bars R8, which project from one of the legs of the back standard. The lateralv motion is imparted to the bar R by means of the handle R9, which slightly rotates the shaft R10. To this shaft are attached twoarms or leversR, the ends of which move in corresponding slots in the slipper R6 at the front end and in afslot in the bar R5 at the back end. The gratings Z are made at the bottom, so that they rest upon the plate at as few points as possible, so as to reduce friction to a minimum and minimize the'power required to rotate the shaft R10. The channel H, Figs. 16 and 19, for the admission of water or .the unltered liquid used in washing the surface of the cloths while brushing is formed in snugs H2 at the top corner opposite to the channel d', which forms the inlet-channel for the unltered liquid. The water or unfiltered liquid may enter the iiltering-chamber by the duct H3, or to this duct or ducts maybe attached a small copper pipe H4, perforated with numerous small holes, as shown in Fig. 165, which tend to distribute the washing liquid over every part of the cloth. In order tol regulate the admission of the washing liquid, the duct H5 is conically drilled at the month, as at H8, andl opposite this duct there is bored a screwed hole H9, into which is screwed the screw H5, the end of which is made to iit tightly at the mouth of the duct H3. The screw H5 is actuated by the milled handle H6 and the hole H9 is kept Water-tight by the j am-nut HT. The plates Y and frames X X of this form of apparatus maybe squeezed together in either of the ways previously described.

The Valve d, Fig. 14, for lthe admission of the unfiltered liquid and the Valve f for emptying the chambers-of their contents prior to brushing are both made as hereinbefore described.

filtrate desired and according to the nature of the liquid to be filtered, provided it possesses sufficient exibility to sag toward the brushes when the filtering-chambers are empl tied of their contents. Cotton cloth has'been found to be most suitable; but any other textile material can be used,including that woven from any kind of wire, provided it fulfils the conditions already named.

Having now described the invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent isv 1. A filtering apparatus comprising th framing, the gratings movably. mounted therein carrying filtering media, the movable brushes for moving over the faces of the ltering media to clean the same, means forV operating said brushes, and means for moving` oradjusting the position-of the gratings, substantially as described.

2. A filtering apparatus comprising theA framing, the gratings mounted therein and carrying filtering media, the movable brushes for cleaning the faces of the filtering media with means for operating said brushes, said brushes being normally out of contact with the filtering media, the inlet and outlet valves to said framing for controlling the flow of the iiuid to be filtered, the air-inletto said fram ing, and the inlet and exit valves for a cleansing fluid, substantially as described.

3. In a filter-press the combination with a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally through the center of the plates of wheels or arms secured thereon, and carrying brushes located within the filtering-chambers and normally out of rubbing contact with the filtering medium but brought into rubbing contact by emptying or partiallyV emptying the chambers to cause sagging of the filter-cloth substantially as described.

' 4. A filter-press having gratings mounted movably therein and devices such as toothed pinions engaging said gratings and adapted to be operated to periodically change the position of the gratings relatively to the surface of the filtering medium resting on them, substantially as described.

IOO

Signed at Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, Y'

Scotland, this 14th day of October, 1897.

JOHN WILLIAMSON.

Witnesses:

WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, J No. ARMSTRONG, Junr. 

